Qsr

Bubblewrap plans 'aggressive' expansion across UK

26-Mar-2021 By Restaurant

Chinatown-based bubble waffle concept Bubblewrap, which is credited with starting the craze for the Hong Kong dessert on these shores, has unveiled plans to roll out across the UK and internationally.

Greggs: transport hubs and drive-thrus offer post pandemic opportunities

25-Mar-2021 By Finn Scott-Delany

Transport hubs still present a great opportunity, even if only half as busy as at previous levels, according to Greggs’ CEO Roger Whiteside.

Pasta Remoli to debut grab & go format at St Pancras International

24-Mar-2021 By Restaurant

Pasta Remoli founder Simone Remoli is opening a grab & go format of his pasta brand next month, which is promised to be the first of many for high footfall locations.

Pure launches membership scheme as it prepares to reopen estate

23-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Health-focused grab and go brand Pure is launching a new subscription membership service, which will give users a 20% discount, to coincide with the reopening of selected sites for takeaway.

US fried chicken chain Popeyes to enter UK market with more than 300 sites planned

23-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

US fried chicken chain Popeyes is to launch its first UK restaurant this year as part of an expansion drive to open more than 300 sites across the country.

Chipotle heads to Chiswick

22-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Chipotle is to open a new London location later this summer, having taken on the former Byron restaurant Chiswick High Road.

Tim Hortons to open drive-thru restaurant in Sheffield

19-Mar-2021 By Restaurant

Canadian restaurant brand Tim Hortons is continuing with its UK expansion plans with the opening of its first drive-thru restaurant in Yorkshire.

Eggs ‘n’ Stuff to open first bricks and mortar location

17-Mar-2021 By Restaurant

Eggs ‘n’ Stuff, the egg-based delivery brand from Wing Shack founder Josh Jarvis, is to open its first pop-up venue this month.

Island Poké secures investment to accelerate future growth

08-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Grab-and-go brand Island Poké has secured investment from Hero Brands to further accelerate its plans for growth both in the UK and internationally.

City centre dining to be lower than pre-Covid levels post pandemic, operators predict

08-Mar-2021 By Restaurant

Diners will return to city centre restaurants post the pandemic, but in smaller numbers than in pre-Coronavirus times, hospitality operators are predicting.

Jollibee to invest £30m in UK expansion with 10 new openings planned this year

08-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Filipino fast food chain Jollibee is planning to open 10 new restaurants in the UK this year as part of a £30m expansion drive.

Fireaway pizza to double its estate to more than 100 sites this year

05-Mar-2021 By Restaurant

Pizza takeaway brand Fireaway is set to double its estate to more than 100 sites this year, including opening 25 new sites in the next 25 weeks.

Wendy's plans 20 UK sites as it prepares for nationwide rollout

04-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

US burger chain Wendy’s is 'on track' to begin opening restaurants in the UK in the coming months, with five sites expected to launch before the end of the year.

Wingstop reveals locations for five new openings this year

01-Mar-2021 By Restaurant

Chicken wing brand Wingstop will open restaurants in in Canary Wharf, Kingston-Upon-Thames, Birmingham, Bristol and Reading as part of its plans to open 10 sites in the UK this year.

Two thirds of hospitality businesses believe April reopening isn’t viable, says poll

26-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

Almost two-thirds (63%) of hospitality businesses say it is not viable to reopen in April when outside trading is permitted, according to the latest Hospitality Leader’s Poll from Lumina Intelligence.

German Doner Kebab to open 47 UK restaurants this year

22-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

Fast casual restaurant brand German Doner Kebab is continuing its rapid expansion with plans to open 47 new restaurants in the UK this year.

Camile Thai Kitchen to grow to 13 UK sites this year

18-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

Thai restaurant group Camile Thai Kitchen will open seven new venues across the UK and Ireland as part of its international expansion plans.

Yori Korean BBQ to open two new London venues this spring

16-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

Korean BBQ restaurant group Yori hopes to open seven new sites this year, including a new takeaway brand and a hybrid takeaway and dine-in format.

Wendy's to open in Oxford

12-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

US burger chain Wendy’s has secured a site in Oxford as it pushes ahead with its plan to return to the UK after more than two decades.

Hostech: case study

Driving through efficiencies in coffee service

11-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

Drive-thru technology is helping businesses improve customer service, reduce waiting times and personalise their marketing, as Costa UK has discovered

Island Poké plans further dark kitchen expansion

09-Feb-2021 By Georgia Cronin

London-based grab-and-go brand Island Poké has launched its fourth dark kitchen this week after seeing success in the delivery-only space last year.

Creams targets northern regions as it expands franchise operation

09-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

Dessert parlour brand Creams is seeking franchise partners to help grow its portfolio across northern England and Scotland.

Hostech: case study

Kiosks: automatic for the people

05-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

Self-Self-serve kiosks have become a regular sight in fast QSR operations as restaurant groups awaken to their benefits – and the Coronavirus pandemic has only served to expedite their uptake

The Halal Guys to permanently close flagship Leicester Square restaurant

04-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

US-founded fast casual chain The Halal Guys will not reopen its flagship London restaurant in Leicester Square.

Hostech: Order and pay technology

Self-service kiosks - following the lead of fast food

03-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

The QSR sector has been the quickest to adopt technology such as self-service kiosks, and are so far reaping the benefits

Chop’d acquired by Inc Retail

01-Feb-2021 By Georgi Gyton

Food-to-go operator Chop’d has been acquired by London-based retail group Inc Retail, for an undisclosed sum, in a deal which includes all 13 of its sites.

Majority of hospitality operators would prefer to delay reopening to avoid restrictions, says poll

29-Jan-2021 By Restaurant

More than three-quarters of operators would rather delay reopening their businesses in order to operate with no restrictions rather than open early with high or very high-tiered restrictions, the latest Lumina Intelligence’s Hospitality Leaders Poll has...

Thunderbird set to launch revamped brand identity as it secures former Bryon Earls Court site

29-Jan-2021 By Finn Scott-Delany

London-based premium fried chicken brand Thunderbird has secured its fourth bricks and mortar site, which it will use as a platform to launch a revamped brand identity.

Creams heads to Wales as it ramps up UK expansion

13-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

Dessert parlour brand Creams is to make its debut in Wales later this month as it looks to accelerate its plans for further UK expansion.

Dom’s Subs upcycles Subway site for second London location

07-Jan-2021 By Finn Scott-Delany

Artisan sandwich maker Dom’s Subs is doubling up with a new site in the City of London.

EggRun looks to crack London market as it eyes significant expansion

22-Dec-2020 By James McAllister

New fast casual concept EggRun is planning to open up to 15 sites in the next three years.

Creams acquired by Pistachio Holdings

21-Dec-2020 By Finn Scott-Delany

Dessert parlour brand Creams has been acquired by Pistachio Holdings, which is backed by Ankush Shah of the East Africa-based Sumaria Group.

Hospitality job losses hit 650,000 this year

08-Dec-2020 By Restaurant

Hospitality job losses have hit 650,000 since January, however the continuation of the furlough scheme has softened the blow, the latest figures from Fourth have revealed.

Slim Chickens signs second franchise deal as it continues to push ahead with roll out

25-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG) has signed a second franchise partner for its US-hatched, fast-casual chicken brand Slim Chickens.

Jollibee to open London flagship as it ramps up UK expansion

18-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Filipino fast food chain Jollibee is to open a new flagship UK site in London's Leicester Square next year, with openings in Edinburgh, Leeds and Cardiff also planned.

Fast food giants partner with Beyond Meat to boost plant-based options

10-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

Fast food giants McDonald’s and Pizza Hut have entered into partnerships with plant-based food producer Beyond Meat to boost their meat-free offerings.

Hospitality divided over second England lockdown

06-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

The hospitality sector is divided over the second national lockdown, according to the latest Lumina Intelligence data.

Tier 2 and 3 restrictions are proving catastrophic for hospitality businesses, says poll

23-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

The Tier 2 and 3 restrictions are proving catastrophic for hospitality businesses with some experiencing a huge drop in trade as a result of the Government measures.

Abokado appoints administrators with 150 jobs lost

20-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

Healthy food restaurant group Abokado has appointed administrators, with the loss of around 150 staff.

Hospitality sector: "we want to be open for usual at Christmas"

19-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

Almost two thirds of hospitality operators (64%) would rather shut down for a ‘circuit-breaker’ now if it meant they could open as usual for the Christmas period, according to the latest Hospitality Leaders Poll.

Sourced Market makes regional debut

23-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Healthy deli and dining brand Sourced Market has opened its first regional site at Leeds Skelton Lake Services, the new M1 service station from Extra MSA Group.

Rule of six will hit hospitality hard, says poll

18-Sep-2020 By Restaurant

The Government’s ‘rule of six’ will negatively impact an overwhelming majority of hospitality businesses, according to the latest Lumina Intelligence’s Hospitality Leaders Poll.

The Lowdown: Zero Human Interaction restaurants

16-Sep-2020 By Stefan Chomka

Restaurants that dispense with the need for human interaction are opening in response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Eat Out to Help Out hailed a success by majority of hospitality businesses

04-Sep-2020 By Restaurant

The Government’s Eat Out to Help Out (EOHO) scheme has been hailed a success by the hospitality sector, with a large majority of businesses saying it led to a boost in trade.

Pret launches coffee subscription to win back customers post lockdown

04-Sep-2020 By Restaurant

Pret A Manger is launching what it claims will be the UK’s first in-shop coffee subscription as part of its strategy to attract more customers post lockdown.

Creams sales up 35% following 'record-breaking' August trade

03-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Dessert-focused chain Creams saw year-on-year sales rise 35% in August as a result of the Government's Eat Out to Help Out (EOHO) discount scheme.

Majority of hospitality businesses have no appetite for autumn discounting

28-Aug-2020 By Restaurant

The majority of restaurant and pub operators have no plans to offer their own form of the Government's Eat Out to Help Out discount scheme past August, according to the latest Hospitality Leaders Poll.

Pret cuts 3,000 jobs as Coronavirus 'sets sales back 10 years'

28-Aug-2020 By Restaurant

Pret has made nearly 3,000 staff redundant as a result of closures due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Jollibee plans 'ambitious' UK expansion as it prepares to open second site

26-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

Filipino fast food chain Jollibee is to open its second UK site early next month in Liverpool, and says it has 'ambitious plans' to rapidly expand across the country.

Wasabi launches CVA proposal

24-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

London-centric sushi and bento brand Wasabi has announced the launch of a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) proposal to help protect the business against the 'profound impact' of the Coronavirus pandemic.